RIGA (LATVIA)
AFP
September 5, 2018
A Latvian Catholic priest has been arrested on allegations he raped a mentally handicapped victim of human trafficking, police in the capital Riga said Wednesday ahead of a papal visit.
A second man was also arrested on suspicion of trafficking in the case, which has shocked the Baltic state as it prepares to receive Pope Francis from September 22.
“One of the suspects ‘delivered’ the defenceless victim for a fee, the church representative, who was the end buyer, paid the fee and then committed violent sexual crimes against the victim,” said Armands Lubarts, chief of a police task force on human trafficking and pimping.
The priest, identified as Pavels Zeila, 73, served in the Aglona?Rezekne diocese in eastern Latvia, which is to host Pope Francis during his four-day tour of the three Baltic states.
Zeila’s lawyer flatly denied the allegations and the Catholic diocese of Rezekne said Zeila must be presumed innocent.
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